Northern Ireland: Police Recruitment

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 10 November (WA 154), who has custody of the archives of the Patten Commission on policing; whether those archives contain the legal opinion referred to in paragraph 15:11 of the Patten report; whether the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has a copy of the legal opinion; and whether they will consider placing a copy of the legal opinion in the Library of the House.

Baroness Amos: I am advised that many of the documents of the Independent Commission on Policing were destroyed by the commission after it had concluded its work. I am given to understand that this would have included the legal opinion referred to. As an independent body it was for the commission to decide what to do with its papers.
	The limited papers that the Government have kept are those financial records pertaining to the running of the commission and formal submissions from organisations to the commission including those made at public sessions. Individual submissions were destroyed, as the commission believed these to be confidential. Copies of public reports that were either given to or commissioned by the independent body were handed to the Linenhall Library in Belfast.

North/South Implementation Bodies

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 2 April (WA 132), on what basis the budgets for the cross-Border bodies for 2003 were set.

Baroness Amos: The budgets that were ultimately agreed for the North/South implementation bodies were set on the basis of their business plans for the year in question.

North/South Implementation Bodies

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 11 December (WA 78) concerning cross-Border implementation bodies, why the information requested was not provided; and whether they will now indicate how long such bodies can exist without a Northern Ireland Executive in place.

Baroness Amos: I have nothing further to add to the information given in the Written Answers of 11 December 2003 (WA 78) and 11 June 2003 (WA 43).

North/South Language Implementation Body: Budget 2004

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why for the second successive year the Government of Eire have unilaterally set the budget of the Ulster-Scots Agency by announcing in November their proportion of the budget without any discussions or any possibility of changing proportionality between the Government and the Eire Government.

Baroness Amos: I have nothing further to add to my answers to HL 272, HL 300 and HL 302 (Official Report, 19 January 2004; col. WA 117).

Northern Ireland Film and Television Commission

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What funding will be available to the Northern Ireland Film and Television Commission for 2004–05; and whether that funding, or part of it, will be targeted at specific sectors by central government.

Baroness Amos: The amount of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure's (DCAL) funding allocation to the Northern Ireland Film and Television Commission (NIFTC) for 2004–05 has yet to be determined and will be decided in the light of the business plan provided by the NIFTC. The DCAL allocation for 2003–04 is £562,000 and comprises contributions towards NIFTC operating costs, the NIFTC education programme and grants to NIFTC's clients in the cultural sector.
	In June 2003 the NIFTC was offered a package of financial support of £9.905 million by Invest Northern Ireland for the three years 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2006. It is anticipated that the take-up of Invest NI support by the NIFTC for the period 2004–05 will be £3.325 million.
	A main objective of the funding is to assist the production of feature films, television drama and other high value productions in Northern Ireland. Other elements aim to provide Northern Ireland-based independent production companies with financial support to assist growth and attract a greater number and value of network television commissions to the Province.
	The NIFTC is currently in negotiation with the UK Film Council regarding an allocation for 2004–05; and is expected to receive from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland in 2004–05 an estimated £824,000 of National Lottery proceeds for distribution to film and moving image projects.

Northern Ireland: Public House Licences

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 14 October 2003 (WA 103) concerning public house licences, whether the creation of a private market in subsisting public house licences that have to be surrendered to obtain new licences has equality implications; and whether they will refer that and the question of community balance in subsisting licences to the Equality Commission for further investigation.

Baroness Amos: There are no known equality implications or community balance issues arising from the acquisition of subsisting public house licences. Consequently, there is no apparent reason to refer these matters to the Equality Commission.

Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the expected underspend by the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure for the year 2003–04; in what areas it occurred; and why.

Baroness Amos: The Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure does not anticipate an underspend for the year 2003–04.

Belfast: Waterways

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 17 November (WA 236–237), whether maintenance by public authorities includes clearing the banks and watercourses of the Knock and Connswater Rivers of rubbish and dumped materials; and, if not, whether they will make it their policy.

Baroness Amos: Maintenance of the Knock and Connswater Rivers is carried out by the Rivers Agency of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, as necessary, to ensure free flow. This maintenance will include clearance of rubbish and dumped materials from banks and channel only where this is likely to impede flows, and not for general aesthetic or amenity reasons. There are no plans to change the policy. Primary responsibility for the clearance of rubbish rests with the adjacent landowners on this extensive urban watercourse system.
	Maintenance on designated reaches of the Connswater River and Knock River is scheduled by Rivers Agency for February and March this year.

Iraq: Sewage Treatment

Lord Judd: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What proportion of the population in (a) Baghdad; (b) Basra; and (c) the rest of Iraq currently have access to sewage systems which are fully functioning; and what proportion are using sewage systems in which sewage is not being treated.

Baroness Amos: Baghdad's three sewage treatment plants serve approximately 80 per cent of the city's population. They are currently under repair by USAID, and are expected to be restored to full capacity by October 2004. Meanwhile, the majority of sewage from Baghdad's 3.8 million residents will remain untreated.
	It is estimated that only 9 per cent of the urban population outside Baghdad is served by sewage systems. In Basra, sewage is currently not being treated. Rural areas and the north of Iraq largely have no piped sewerage systems.
	The United Nations and World Bank have identified the following priority targets for sewerage 2004–07: raise sanitation coverage in urban areas by 10 per cent; prepare a comprehensive strategy for sanitation in rural areas; develop city master plans for the provision of water and sanitation services in 15 major cities; and, in the medium term, raise sanitation coverage by 30 per cent in both urban and rural areas.
	From its recently agreed supplemental appropriation, the USA has allocated 675 million US dollars towards improving sewerage systems in Iraq. The initial focus will be on the cities of Baghdad, Basra, Erbil and Kula.

Cory Reports: Publication

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will publish the report by Judge Peter Cory on allegations of official collusion in the murder of Pat Finucane and five other murders, if necessary in a suitably redacted form to avoid prejudicing continuing investigations or to put at risk members of the security and intelligence services.

Baroness Amos: The Government are committed to publishing Justice Cory's reports on the murders of Pat Finucane, Robert Hamill, Rosemary Nelson and Billy Wright as soon as possible, in line with the judge's terms of reference. These made it clear that any issues involving national security, the criminal process or the safety of individuals would need to be considered carefully first.

Legislative Process: Public Involvement

Lord Brightman: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the answer by the Lord President on 18 December 2003 (HL Deb, col. 1282), whether the public would be better involved in the legislative process if selected organisations were invited to submit evidence in relation to Bills or draft Bills.

Baroness Amos: Select and Joint Committees already can, and do, invite relevant organisations to submit evidence in relation to Bills and draft Bills. The submission of evidence by selected organisations is a key element in pre-legislative scrutiny. It is also quite common for Select Committees, in this and another place, to take evidence on Bills which are before Parliament. The Government are willing to explore further how stakeholder organisations, and the public more widely, might be more closely involved in the legislative process, for example by more effective use of new communications technology.

North Korea: Food Aid

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What advice they are giving to the United Nations World Food Programme as regards food aid for North Korea and verification that such aid in 2004 will reach those in greatest need.

Baroness Amos: We are encouraging the World Food Programme (WFP) to undertake an impact assessment of the effects of the food cutbacks that were made in 2003 in order to understand the implications of the shortage on the most vulnerable sections of the population.
	Monitoring and access remain a key concern to us. There have been small improvements in terms of monitoring, including better access to government warehouses, a more systematic distribution system and better tracking of commodities. We remain engaged with WFP on the issue of diversion and believe that it is ensuring to the best of its ability that the food reaches the most needy.
	While not directly funding WFP in North Korea, we contribute 19 per cent of the EC's aid budget, under which food assistance is provided. The latest contribution of 5 million euros for six months' assistance will take the form of therapeutic food, vitamins and minerals, to both treat and prevent the deterioration of the nutritional status of vulnerable North Korean children and their mothers. This intervention will take place through specific healthcare centres and children's homes, and their clinical nature will make diversion less likely. In addition, the nutritional status of the target group can be monitored routinely, thus ensuring the assistance reaches its intended beneficiaries.

Questions for Written Answer: Reply Times

Lord Jopling: asked the Leader of the House:
	Whether the current 102 Questions for Written Answer still awaiting an Answer after three weeks constitutes a record.

Baroness Amos: I regret that not all of the Questions for Written Answer tabled before Christmas Recess have been answered.
	I continue to review the outstanding Questions with my ministerial colleagues on a weekly basis and remind them of the importance of prompt and accurate Answers.

UK Flag: Business Premises

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the flag of the United Kingdom can be flown outside business premises anywhere in the United Kingdom; and, if not, why not.

Lord Rooker: Yes it can.

Iraq: Casualties of Bombing

Lord Judd: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their latest estimate of the numbers of those (a) killed; and (b) wounded or maimed in Iraq as a result of the activation of unexploded munitions, including cluster bombs, since the end of the war in 2003.

Lord Bach: I refer my noble friend to the Answer I gave on 18 September 2003, (Official Report, col. WA 193), to my noble friend Lord Hoyle. This situation remains unchanged.

Data Protection: EC/US Discussion and UK Citizens

Lord Willoughby de Broke: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Filkin on 5 January (WA 18), whether the transfer of personal data on United Kingdom citizens by the European Union Commission to the United States is compatible with the Data Protection Act 1998.

Lord Filkin: Findings made by the European Commission under Article 25.6 of the Data Protection Directive (95/46/EC) that there is an adequate level of data protection in third countries are binding on the United Kingdom. Transfers of personal data to such third countries that are made consistently with any conditions that may be set by the Commission's findings will be compliant with the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998 that regulate the transfer of personal data to third countries.

Northern Ireland: Disability Living Allowance

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the rates for persons receiving disability living allowance in each of the Northern Ireland constituencies; and what are the overall rates for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: Disability living allowance (DLA) has two components: the care component which has three rates; and the mobility component which has two rates.
	The components and rates are as follows:
	
		
			 Component Rate: April 2003 
			 DLA (care)  
			 Highest rate £57.20 
			 Middle rate £38.30 
			 Lowest rate £15.15 
			 DLA (mobility) 
			 Higher rate £39.95 
			 Lower rate £15.15 
		
	
	A combination of components and rates can be paid depending on the amount of personal care and mobility needs required.
	These components and rates apply in exactly the same way throughout the United Kingdom.

EU Decisions: Public Expenditure Implications

Lord Tebbit: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which items of public expenditure were subject to increase in the year 2002–03 consequent upon European Union decisions over which Parliament had no control.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The public expenditure implications of all EU legislative and non-legislative proposals are set out in the relevant explanatory memoranda provided to the House of Lords and the House of Commons European Scrutiny Committees. Explanatory memoranda become publicly available once they have been signed by the lead Minister and sent to the Scrutiny Committees.
	Peers and MPs can acquire individual EMs from the European Vote Office or the Library of the House. Members of the public can request copies of EMs through the Houses of Parliament bookshop, either online or in person (at a charge).

Tourism: Compensation Claims

Lord Fearn: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps, if any, are being taken to counteract the compensation culture in the tourism industry and to introduce changes to legislation to reduce or eliminate the opportunity for unreasonable claims.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: My right honourable friend the Minister for Sport and Tourism will be meeting representatives of the tourism industry shortly and will consider any evidence they put forward to demonstrate the existence of a "compensation culture" or that unreasonable claims are succeeding.

Tourism Accommodation: VAT

Lord Fearn: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether there is currently any review of VAT on tourism accommodation in England.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The Government keep all tax matters under constant review.

Delayed Discharges (Continuing Care) Directions

Baroness Greengross: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How they have fulfilled the commitment they gave during the passage of the Community Care (Delayed Discharges etc.) Bill that every patient concerned should be assessed for fully-funded continuing care before social services are contacted (HL Deb, 27 March 2003, col. 984).

Lord Warner: Guidance issued in support of the implementation of the Community Care (Delayed Discharges etc.) Act made it clear that an assessment notification cannot be issued to social services if the appropriate continuing care assessment has not been carried out. The Delayed Discharges (Continuing Care) Directions will strengthen the legal framework for ensuring that an assessment for fully funded National Health Service continuing care is completed. As a result of external consultation with key stakeholders amendments have been made to these directions and they will be published in due course.

Water Disconnections

Earl Russell: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will monitor the level of water disconnections among (a) those on mean-tested social security benefits; and (b) those subjected to benefit sanctions.

Lord Whitty: The Water Industry Act 1999 removed the power of any water company to disconnect homes because of the non-payment of bills.

West Coast Main Line

Lord Bradshaw: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Davies of Oldham on 15 January (HL 713), whether they believe that the differences between carryings on the West Coast Main Line and other intercity routes are due to the modernisation strategy rather than factors such as fares, service standards and air competition; and whether they expect the West Coast Main Line to close the margin of difference with other intercity routes.

Lord Davies of Oldham: Patronage on the West Coast Main Line reflects a range of factors. Modernisation of line will ensure that the route can play its full role in meeting transport needs over the next 20 to 30 years.

M6 Toll: Speed Cameras

The Earl of Mar and Kellie: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many speed cameras are installed on the M6 Toll.

Lord Davies of Oldham: There are no fixed cameras being used to monitor speeds on the M6 Toll.